Wilde (1997)

Director:

Brian Gilbert

Writers:

Richard Ellmann (book)
Julian Mitchell (writer)

Release Date:

1 May 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History

Tagline:

The story of the first modern man

Plot:

The story of Oscar Wilde, genius, poet, playwright and the First Modern Man. The self-realisation of...

Plot Keywords:

Homosexuality | Love | Playwright | Hard Labor | Aristocracy

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Stephen Fry	...	Oscar Wilde
Jude Law	...	Lord Alfred 'Bosie' Douglas
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Lady Speranza Wilde
Jennifer Ehle	...	Constance Lloyd Wilde
Gemma Jones	...	Lady Queensberry
Judy Parfitt	...	Lady Mount-Temple
Michael Sheen	...	Robbie Ross
Zoë Wanamaker	...	Ada Leverson
Tom Wilkinson	...	Marquess of Queensberry
Ioan Gruffudd	...	John Gray
Matthew Mills	...	Lionel Johnson
Jason Morell	...	Ernest Dowson
Peter Barkworth	...	Charles Gill
Robert Lang	...	C.O. Humphreys
Philip Locke	...	Judge

Also Known As:

Oscar Wilde (Germany) (Japan: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality and language.

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

UK | Germany | Japan

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:18A (Ontario) | Australia:M | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Ireland:18 | Singapore:R21 (cut) | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Hong Kong:III | Mexico:C | Portugal:M/16 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Grip House Studios, Greenford, Middlesex, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Orlando Bloom's film debut.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Bosie enters Oscar's room in the country house, a picture to the left of the door reflects a studio light and later, when Bosie sits down, the boom.

Quotes:

Lady Speranza Wilde: You're an Irish Gentleman. Of course you'll be staying. Your father fought when he was libeled. I was in the courts myself. I fought...
Oscar Wilde: Yes, I know, Mother.
Lady Speranza Wilde: You'll fight these English philistines and you'll win! And even if you lose, if you go to prison, you'll always be my son.
Oscar Wilde: Well, of course, it's too late to change that now.
Lady Speranza Wilde: If you go, Oscar, I'll never speak to you again.
Oscar Wilde: No one will ever speak to me again whatever I do. Of course I'm your son, which is why, even if I lose, the English will never forget me.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Venice Report (1997) (TV)

Almost perfect

This film portrays Oscar Wilde in a totally remarkable way. It should probably have focused more on his writing than on his personal life, but beyond that choice, the film is almost perfect.

When it isn't completely perfect, it has to do with the plot, which has some rather weak points. The love between Wilde and Bosie is somewhat difficult to understand. They are completely different. Maybe opposites attract, but not when two people live in two completely different worlds, like Wilde and Bosie seem to do. Of course, one could look at it from a cynical point of view, and say that they both have what the other one want; Wilde has money and Bosie looks, but one can also look at it in a romantic way, give them the benefit of the doubt, and think that they really are in love. That makes the story nicer (for a while), and much, MUCH more interesting!

Beyond that, I have only positive things to say about "Wilde". The script is fabulous, and adding a double story by putting in one of his nursery stories, was a great move! One of the most best parts of the film, is Wilde's speech in court. Really touching! The ending could easily have become extremely sentimental, but that is cleverly avoided.

Stephen Fry shines as Oscar Wilde. He is so credible, and does his job so well that if I didn't know better, I'd actually think that it really WAS Wilde I saw on the screen. Law and Redgrave also put in top notch performances.

Everyone will probably not appreciate this film as much as I did (it is a matter of whether you can deal with gay sex or not, and like dramas of course), but give it a try! It deserves two hours of your time, and much much more!